Hingis said: "I know I'll get some tough matches and it will allow me to get used to the Australian summer coming from the European winter."

Hingis, who retired due to injury in 2002, announced last month she planned to return to professional tennis.

Maria Sharapova is among the other entries at the Australian women's hardcourt tournament at Royal Pines.

Three-time Australian Open champion Hingis hopes to make her Grand Slam comeback in Melbourne next month.

The 25-year-old Swiss star has been offered a wildcard for the Australian Open.

Hingis says she is ready to challenge the world's best players, despite a three-year absence caused by a string of foot, heel and ankle problems.

She said: "When you've been number one for four years, that's all you want - to compete with the best and possibly win grand slams.

When I look at the rest of the top 10, that definitely gives me hope
Martina Hingis

"I would love to be world number one again, but I can only see if that's possible once I start competing."

Hingis said she was relishing the chance to test herself against the players who have succeeded in her absence.

"When people ask me who I really want to play, I always say Sharapova.

"Firstly, because she's the only one I haven't played, but also because she's won Wimbledon and been number one herself, so she's probably the young girl to aim for right now.

"When I look at the rest of the top 10 and see that Lindsay Davenport, Mary Pierce, Amelie Mauresmo and the Belgian girls (Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin) are still at the top, that definitely gives me hope."

Hingis, who won the last of her three straight Australian Open titles in 1999, has dropped out of the WTA rankings and needs wild card invitations to play.

tennisjay

Dec 20th, 2005, 04:53 PM

I also believe that Martina thinks Maria is the only person she can beat at this time thatís in the top 10 right now. Martina already knows Maria game so beating her probably would be relatively easy.

Martyś

Dec 20th, 2005, 05:19 PM

:haha: Are you talking serious ?

Mafia_Sharapova

Dec 20th, 2005, 06:16 PM

Omg! :lol: Hingis likes Maria :devil:

Volcana

Dec 20th, 2005, 07:05 PM

I also believe that Martina thinks Maria is the only person she can beat at this time thatís in the top 10 right now.If you actually believe that Hingis believes that, I humbly suggest you focus on breathing. You don't have enough brain cells to spare some to this sort of speculation.

Bright Red

Dec 20th, 2005, 08:00 PM

I'm glad Hingis is coming back, but if she thinks she stands a chance against Sharapova, I'm so sorry.

Who knows. Maybe she'll surprise us.

Ryan

Dec 20th, 2005, 08:01 PM

I'm glad Hingis is coming back, but if she thinks she stands a chance against Sharapova, I'm so sorry.

Who knows. Maybe she'll surprise us.

Maybe she just wants to guage where she is, and play the only top 10'er she hasn't played yet. :shrug:

tennisjay

Dec 20th, 2005, 09:42 PM

If you actually believe that Hingis believes that, I humbly suggest you focus on breathing. You don't have enough brain cells to spare some to this sort of speculation.

No need to get snippy Iím just giving my opinion. I see she didnít say she was eager to get back and play the WS, Lindsay, Kim, Justine, or Jenn, the players that give her problems constantly.

LadyLil

Dec 20th, 2005, 09:49 PM

She is being very careful about who she talks about. I have yet to hear her mention Venus or Serena who when last seen were wiping up the court with her.

I'm not fan of Sharapova but I hope she's taking notes of Hingis comments and is prepared for her.

Bright Red

Dec 20th, 2005, 10:01 PM

Maybe she just wants to guage where she is, and play the only top 10'er she hasn't played yet. :shrug:

I thought of that, too. After all, she never says she thinks she can win.

Bitter Blue Bong

Dec 20th, 2005, 11:02 PM

I also believe that Martina thinks Maria is the only person she can beat at this time thatís in the top 10 right now. Martina already knows Maria game so beating her probably would be relatively easy.

I don't see what's so ridiculous about this statement. It seems like Martina thinks her game could match up/fare well against Sharapova's. I don't know if Martina thinks it will be EASY to beat Sharapova, but her comments so far suggest that she is preparing herself for that matchup specifically.

WonderfulLee

Dec 20th, 2005, 11:33 PM

wow..very interesting!

I wish martina can beat maria! :devil:

Dan23

Dec 20th, 2005, 11:38 PM

:lol: tennisjay at it again
Martina hasnt played Maria for 8 years, I doubt she knows her game better than any of the other top 10 players. For Martina to think she could rock up now and towel up Maria it would be expecting a bit much of herself...I think Martina is a bit more realistic than some people here.

xan

Dec 20th, 2005, 11:40 PM

The last time Martina was seen on court, she was unable to cope with the pace and power of the new generation of players, getting thumped by Petrova. I don't know if she's done anything to alter that.

Wsisters45

Dec 21st, 2005, 01:10 AM

damn, maybe she IS obsessed :lol:

Miranda

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:00 AM

i don't see anything wrong for making speculation, no need to behave so rude :rolleyes:
If you actually believe that Hingis believes that, I humbly suggest you focus on breathing. You don't have enough brain cells to spare some to this sort of speculation.

Kunal

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:02 AM

wonder how scrappy hingis will be when she plays for real..

im really interested in seeing her play jus to see what she is like these days.

TF Chipmunk

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:06 AM

Martina/Maria for doubles, anyone? :devil:

Mafia_Sharapova

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:59 AM

Martina/Maria for doubles, anyone? :devil:

yeah ! :worship: :devil:

franny

Dec 21st, 2005, 04:11 AM

Lol, all she said is, "of all the top players, I want to play Sharapova most." And yet everyone is going around making assumptions saying that Hingis thinks she can beat her. The comments mean nothing more than the fact that Hingis wants to see the challenge of playing the new it girl. She's played against Venus, Serena, Lindsay. These players are playing at the same level that they were playing when Hingis last played, if not worse. Why would Martina wants to play them most. Remember, this is not Martina just coming out and saying that she wants to play Maria badly. This is, when people ask her who she wants to play the most, she says Sharapova. So Hingis is not going around parading the fact that she wants to play Sharapova. People are asking her and Martina, being the straightforward person that she is, is telling the truth. I seriously think that all these various assumptions are quite dumb and is exactly what is wrong with the state of the world. People reading so much into quotes is what makes the world so easily manipulated by the press and why tabloid magazines are successful.

bellascarlett

Dec 21st, 2005, 05:27 AM

Lol, all she said is, "of all the top players, I want to play Sharapova most." And yet everyone is going around making assumptions saying that Hingis thinks she can beat her. The comments mean nothing more than the fact that Hingis wants to see the challenge of playing the new it girl. She's played against Venus, Serena, Lindsay. These players are playing at the same level that they were playing when Hingis last played, if not worse. Why would Martina wants to play them most. Remember, this is not Martina just coming out and saying that she wants to play Maria badly. This is, when people ask her who she wants to play the most, she says Sharapova. So Hingis is not going around parading the fact that she wants to play Sharapova. People are asking her and Martina, being the straightforward person that she is, is telling the truth. I seriously think that all these various assumptions are quite dumb and is exactly what is wrong with the state of the world. People reading so much into quotes is what makes the world so easily manipulated by the press and why tabloid magazines are successful.

Finally!...I agree...it was an answer given by Martina that should be mostly taken at face value. The challenge of facing Maria is probably the most exciting for her as that match up would represent the fact she is back - ready and willing to get back to the top after 3 years of absence. She comes back out of retirement confronted by a lot of familiar things from the past i.e. familiar faces at the very top, the same big babe tennis game overshadowing the rest. However, in 3 years, there are quite a few things that have changed and one of them is having Maria amongst the elite players. As Martina said, Maria is the young girl to aim for. The idea of beating Maria would signify that despite the passing of time, she still is a great player. In other words, I'm sure she would love to beat Maria and probably expects to do so given time (otherwise what is the point of the comeback?) but I don't think she sees the potential match up against Maria as the most pleasant out of the ones she could have against the other top 10 or 12 players. It's curiousity and the excitement of a new challenge - facing an opponent who arguably most represents the future of tennis - that I think makes her say that she is most looking forward to playing Maria.

martinailuv

Dec 21st, 2005, 02:14 PM

Hingis said: "I know I'll get some tough matches and it will allow me to get used to the Australian summer coming from the European winter."

Hingis, who retired due to injury in 2002, announced last month she planned to return to professional tennis.

Maria Sharapova is among the other entries at the Australian women's hardcourt tournament at Royal Pines.

Three-time Australian Open champion Hingis hopes to make her Grand Slam comeback in Melbourne next month.

The 25-year-old Swiss star has been offered a wildcard for the Australian Open.

Hingis says she is ready to challenge the world's best players, despite a three-year absence caused by a string of foot, heel and ankle problems.

She said: "When you've been number one for four years, that's all you want - to compete with the best and possibly win grand slams.

When I look at the rest of the top 10, that definitely gives me hope
Martina Hingis

"I would love to be world number one again, but I can only see if that's possible once I start competing."

Hingis said she was relishing the chance to test herself against the players who have succeeded in her absence.

"When people ask me who I really want to play, I always say Sharapova.

"Firstly, because she's the only one I haven't played, but also because she's won Wimbledon and been number one herself, so she's probably the young girl to aim for right now.

"When I look at the rest of the top 10 and see that Lindsay Davenport, Mary Pierce, Amelie Mauresmo and the Belgian girls (Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin) are still at the top, that definitely gives me hope."

Hingis, who won the last of her three straight Australian Open titles in 1999, has dropped out of the WTA rankings and needs wild card invitations to play.

link? :scratch:

volta

Dec 21st, 2005, 02:50 PM

when Anna was popular Hingis went after her to play doubles and all when Jenniffer made the comeback and was one of the most populars Hingis went after her they even trained together they would see each others matchs yadaa yadaa yadaa now its sharapova that is popular and wow Hingis wants to play her the most :eek: hhmm :scratch:

tennisjay

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:10 PM

:lol: tennisjay at it again
Martina hasnt played Maria for 8 years, I doubt she knows her game better than any of the other top 10 players. For Martina to think she could rock up now and towel up Maria it would be expecting a bit much of herself...I think Martina is a bit more realistic than some people here.

Martina is smart enough to know sheís not ready to take on the best players in the world so of course she going to settle for 3rd best Maria. :lol:

Kunal

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:15 PM

its all good people.....

we're getting another diva on the tour....and this one has got buckets of talent....

It augurs well for tennis. And thats that.

tennisjay

Dec 21st, 2005, 03:46 PM

its all good people.....

we're getting another diva on the tour....and this one has got buckets of talent....

It augurs well for tennis. And thats that.

She had talent put it in past tense.

lukehingis

Dec 21st, 2005, 04:18 PM

The only reason she said that was because Maria is the only player in the top 10 she hasn't played against...